McCareins was due a $2.5 million roster bonus in March, which wasn't going to happen for a wide receiver coming off a 19-catch season. He was well-thought of before dropping every big pass thrown his way in New York, so he'll likely sign a more reasonable contract and compete for a No. 3 job elsewhere. Returning to Tennessee is a realistic possibility.

After a solid 2006, Dyson lost his starting job to Darrelle Revis in camp, and quickly found himself in Eric Mangini's doghouse. By the end of the season, he wasn't even active on game days.

Source: newyorkjets.com

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Jets waived G Adrien Clarke.

Clarke filled departed LG Pete Kendall's spot, and was a big reason the entire New York offensive line took huge strides backward. The former seventh-round pick will likely compete for a reserve spot wherever he signs.

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (AP) - Wide receiver Justin McCareins and cornerback Andre Dyson were released, and starting left guard Adrien Clarke was waived by the New York Jets on Tuesday.

The veterans were cut three days before the start of the NFL's free agent period as the Jets attempt to create additional salary cap room.

McCareins, acquired in 2004 in a trade with Tennessee, never developed into the impact receiver the Jets hoped he'd become. In four seasons in New York, he had 141 catches for 2,062 and seven touchdowns. He saw limited action last season, catching just 19 passes for 232 yards.

McCareins never seemed to get consistent action in the offense and was surpassed by former college quarterback Brad Smith as the team's No. 3 wide receiver. A few costly drops hurt him, including when he couldn't handle a potential touchdown pass from Kellen Clemens that would have tied the game late against Baltimore in Week 2. McCareins had another pass glance off his hands that resulted in a game-ending interception in the 20-13 loss.

Dyson, signed by the Jets as a free agent from Seattle in 2006, had five interceptions in two seasons with the Jets, but just one in nine games last season as a backup. He started every game at left cornerback until he was injured in Week 15 of the 2006 season, and was then replaced by rookie Darrelle Revis last season.

Dyson, bothered by a foot injury throughout training camp, was inactive for six games and didn't play in the Jets' last five games. He spent his first four NFL seasons with Tennessee and one with the Seahawks.

Clarke struggled as the replacement for Pete Kendall, starting 14 games at left guard for the Jets last season. After Kendall was traded to Washington following a bitter contract dispute, the Jets plugged in Clarke, who was signed before last season after two years with Philadelphia.

He may have sealed his fate when he was beaten by Richard Seymour on Clemens' first pass attempt against New England in Week 14. Clemens was intercepted on the play by Eugene Wilson, who returned it for a touchdown, and the quarterback missed the rest of the game and the following week with a rib injury. Clarke was inactive the last two games.

Long-term contract talks between the Jets and S Kerry Rhodes are ongoing.
Because Rhodes is signed through 2008 (for $520,000), the Jets can wait until the first wave of free agency is over to extend him. He's still a priority.
Source: New York Daily News

In addition to G Alan Faneca, OL Damien Woody, LB Calvin Pace, and DE Tommy Kelly are reportedly on the Jets' free agent wish list.
They'll be competing with San Francisco and possibly New England for Pace's services. Kelly (6'6/300) would play end in the Jets' 3-4. Denver also has him on its radar. Woody could be a fallback if they can't land Faneca.
Source: New York Daily News
Related: Calvin Pace, Tommy Kelly, Jets

Jonathan Vilma is "very very close" to becoming a New Orleans Saint, according to the Washington Post. The New Orleans Times Picayune reports the Jets and New Orleans are "close to finalizing a deal."

The Redskins "nosed around" Vilma, but never showed serious interest. The Lions also wanted him, but have less incentive to offer draft picks, assuming that's what the Jets were looking for. Newsday guesses that the Saints will be sending a third-round pick to New York. It's not out of the question that the Jets would in turn send that pick to Carolina for Kris Jenkins.

Jets acquired Kris Jenkins for third- and fifth-round picks in the 2008 draft.

Both FoxSports and ESPN has confirmed the news. It remains uncertain if the Jets will restructure Jenkins' contract. New York is taking a risk, and has been surprisingly willing to give up picks in the Mangini era, but Jenkins should fit their scheme well and replace Dewayne Robertson.

The Jets have inquired about free agent OL Shane Olivea.
The team has its new left guard (when Alan Faneca officially signs on the dotted line), and could use an upgrade at right tackle. Olivea is a NY native.
Source: New York Daily News
Related: Jets

NFL Network's Adam Schefter reports that the Jets have reached agreement with Alan Faneca on a five-year, $40 million contract, with $21 million guaranteed.

The Jets added a year to the original offer, but Faneca will never see that money. He'll be lucky to see the fourth year. In the meantime, he'll bolster a pitiful interior rushing attack. The Jets are overpaying, but they have a leader to help their young linemen develop.

The New York Jets and Cincinnati Bengals have agreed to terms on a trade that would send defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson to the Bengals in exchange for Cincinnati's fourth- and fifth-round picks (Nos. 114 and 151) in the upcoming draft, according to league sources.

Completion of the trade is contingent upon Robertson agreeing to a new contract -- he had two years remaining on his rookie deal with New York -- and passing a physical, though neither is expected to hold up the deal, which could be finalized as early as Monday.

On Friday the Bengals had a deal in place to acquire Lions defensive tackle Shaun Rogers in exchange for third- and fifth-round picks, but that trade fell through when it did not meet league approval. The Lions then traded Rogers to the Bengals' in-state rivals, the Browns, for a third rounder and cornerback Leigh Bodden.

In Robertson, 26, the Bengals, hoping to improve a defense that has ranked higher than 27th in yards allowed once in the past five seasons, will get a player who isn't as big or as dominant as Rogers has been in his first five season. But Robertson is just as hungry for a fresh start. Robertson, 6-foot-1 and 310 pounds, should be a better fit as a penetrating "3-technique" tackle in Cincinnati's 4-3 scheme than he had been in the Jets' 3-4 the past two years.

In an interesting twist, the Bengals will have on their roster two of the first four picks in the 2003 draft. In fact, Cincinnati selected quarterback Carson Palmer first overall that year from among a group of four finalists that also included Robertson, whom Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis (along with many other personnel evaluators) is said to have loved coming out of the University of Kentucky.

Robertson will be the fifth interior defensive lineman to be dealt for at least one draft pick since Friday, joining Corey Williams (Packers to Browns), Kris Jenkins (Panthers to Jets), Marcus Stroud (Jaguars to Bills) and Rogers. Some do not consider the 2008 draft to be deep at the defensive tackle position, thus several teams have decided to instead spend pick on a veteran.